Campaign group Power
for People has thanked Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) for supporting a new Bill in
Parliament that it says would help rebuild local economies whilst increasing clean
energy generation.
The proposed new law,
known as the Local Electricity Bill, is supported by 187 MPs.
If made law, it would
create a new Right to Local Supply of energy that would empower communities
to sell locally generated electricity directly to local households and
businesses.
Currently customers
can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities.
The Bill’s
supporters say this means money people use to pay their energy bills is not
helping to rebuild local economies and local clean energy infrastructure.
Power for People is calling for MPs and the UK Government to make the Bill law
and is leading a supportive coalition of organisations including Community
Energy England, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, WWF,
Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB.
Forty-four local authorities have also pledged
their support.
Power for People’s director Steve Shaw said: “We thank Simon Baynes for supporting the Local
Electricity Bill.
"If made law, the Bill would unleash the huge potential for
new community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local
economies, jobs, services, and facilities in communities across the country.”
Simon Baynes said: “The Local Electricity Bill will empower and enable new community
energy companies to sell energy that they generate directly to local people which
will help strengthen local economies.
"This is urgently needed given the
economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The Bill will also help accelerate our
transition to clean energy, which is critical in avoiding the potential economic
and ecological devastation of climate change. I will do all I can to ensure it
becomes law.”
